Daily Weather Observations from SW Alabama for Sat., April 26, 2014

Temp: 61.2 degrees F.

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.00 inches.

Humidity: 79 percent (Humid)

Conditions: Partly Cloudy skies and sunny; birds audible and visible; jet contrails visible in the sky.

Barometric Pressure: 29.50 inHg.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 7.90 inches

Spring to Date Rainfall: 11.25 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 24.85 inches

NOTES: Today is the 116th day of 2014 and the 38th day of Spring. There are 248 days left in the year.

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-4, Station Name: Excel 2.5 ESE. 

James Adams Stallworth of Evergreen (April 7, 1822 - Aug. 31, 1861)

James Adams Stallworth

From “Chapter XXVIII: The County of Conecuh” in “Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Record and Public Men From 1540 to 1872” by Willis Brewer:

James Adams Stallworth was a native and resident of this county. His father, Mr. Nicholas Stallworth, was a planter. The maiden name of his mother was Adams.

The parents came from South Carolina, and were among the earliest settlers of the county, and here the son first saw the light in 1822. He received only an academic education. In 1845, and again in 1847, he represented the county in the legislature.

Licensed as an attorney in 1848, he was elected district solicitor the ensuing year, and held that position for six years. In 1855, he was the nominee of his party for congress, but was defeated by Col. Percy Walker of Mobile. He was again the nominee of his party in 1857 and 1859 and was elected; the first time over Col. John McCaskill of Wilcox, the next over Col. Frederick B. Sheppard of Mobile.

When the state withdrew from the Union, Mr. Stallworth retired with his colleagues. His death occurred in Evergreen Aug. 31, 1861 of enteritis. He married a Miss Crosby of this county, and one of his sons is an attorney in Evergreen. Major Nicholas Stallworth of this county is a brother.

Mr. Stallworth yielded to none in the display of those genial, sociable and liberal qualities which are so highly prized in the South. And if he was less useful and efficient as a public servant than some others, at least none was more honorable, or free from every sordid vice.

Did Burnt Corn man and Indian princess leap to their deaths at Claiborne?

(The following story was originally published in The Monroe Journal’s Centennial Edition on Dec. 22, 1966. The story appeared on Page 33C of that issue under the headline, “’Claiborne Also Has Lover’s Leap Legend.")

Fort Claiborne was a pallisaded structure enclosing two acres or more and surrounded by a moat or ditch, the remains of which are yet distinctly visible. The fort was nearly a mile below the present town on a high point of the bluff and about half way between the town and the original lower landing.

A legend of Fort Claiborne is told giving the circumstance from which the bluff is named Lover’s Leap.

Nannahubba was an island at the junction of the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, made by a cross channel called cutoff. The prophet Francais was a Parisan chief of the Creeks who waged an independent war against the whites between the two rivers. Upon her lofty bluff, Fort Claiborne stood filled with soldiery and emigrants. In every gorge and brake, the wily Indian crouched over all the territory. War’s bloody streams did flow.

It was night upon the Nannahubba and within his tent of reeds the Prophet Francais lay surrounded with his warriors.

The Burnt Corn captive bound securely to the tree, should die at the first beam of morning.

Warriors ranged about his watching. Still another watcher was there, more cunning in her surveillance, the beautiful Winona, the daughter of the prophet and prospective queen, who felt toward the victim and sympathy in her heart, resolved to set him free.

In the stillness of the early morn she approached the tree and with her stone knife, set him free and bade him follow quickly where she led the way.

She led him to a canoe in the water’s edge. He lingered there and gazed on his lonely savior, while in his breast arose the flame of love. Then their vows of fidelity were made and he stepped into the canoe and glided away.

When autumn came, Leopold Lanier stood sternly at Fort Claiborne. Here, where he had held his trystings with his Indian love. In the deep Morass he often met the lovely Winona. He feared to disclose her presence to his friends and she feared the Prophet Francais. One night as they met and talked, a noise which they heard and thought to be the dip of paddles in the stream, proved to be that made by Indian warriors. The Prophet with 12 grim warriors surrounded them. The Prophet commanded the warriors to seize Leopold but not to harm the maiden.

The stillness was broken by a shot from Leopold’s rifle and the Prophet fell. The warriors rushed upon him and on the rim of the yawning precipice he fought them till by accident his gun was seized. His foes thought him taken, but in an instant, he caught the maiden in his arms and with a wild bound, leaped into the water.

There in the watery grave, side by side, sleep Leopold and Winona, the ever faithful lovers.

Daily Weather Observations from SW Alabama for Fri., April 25, 2014

Temp: 68.2 degrees F.

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.00 inches.

Humidity: 83 percent (Humid)

Conditions: Mostly Cloudy skies; birds audible.

Barometric Pressure: 29.43 inHg.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 7.90 inches

Spring to Date Rainfall: 11.25 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 24.85 inches

NOTES: Today is the 115th day of 2014 and the 37th day of Spring. There are 249 days left in the year.

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-4, Station Name: Excel 2.5 ESE. 

Book details hunt for famous train robber in Conecuh, Monroe counties

Those of you with a taste for local history will love a recently published book called “Rube Burrow, Desperado” by Rick Miller of Harker Heights, Texas. Released on Feb. 4, this 201-page book details the criminal career of notorious train robber, Rube Burrow.

Burrow, who’s real name was Reuben Houston Burrow, grew up near Sulligent in Lamar County, and went on to earn the nickname “King of Outlaws.” While Burrow isn’t as well known today as such outlaws as Butch Cassidy, Jesse James and Billy the Kidd, he was just as bad, maybe worse. In all, Burrow robbed eight trains in four states while James’ gang robbed maybe five and Cassidy’s game robbed maybe four.

Burrow’s method of train robbery set him apart from many others. Almost always, he’d stop the train with the passenger cars on a trestle, so that passengers would be afraid to get off and interfere for fear they’d fall off the trestle. Burrow also quickly figured out that he could steal more money by ransacking mail cars than by robbing the passengers.

Burrow, then age 32, and his gang committed their first two train robberies in December 1886 near Bellevue, Texas. From there, they’d go on to commit three more train robberies in Texas and Arkansas.

These robberies drew a lot of attention from authorities that included local law enforcement, U.S. marshals, U.S. postal officials and detectives that worked for the railroad companies, including the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency. Their search for Burrow and his gang ramped up in December 1888 when the gang shot and killed 32-year-old train passenger Robert Chester Hughes during the gang’s sixth train robbery near Duck Hill, Miss.

Months later, Burrow became a household name when reports of another murder hit major newspapers in New York City and Boston. During that incident, which occurred on July 16, 1889, Burrow shot and killed 41-year-old Moses J. Graves, who was the postmaster in the small town of Jewel, Ala. The shooting was the result of a dispute between Burrow and Graves over a package that contained a false beard and wig.

A nationwide manhunt for Burrow followed, but this didn’t stop him from robbing trains. In September 1889, Burrow and another man robbed a train near Buckatunna, Miss. After that robbery, Burrow laid low for a while, working in logging camps in Santa Rosa County, Fla., but law enforcement agents were still hot on his trail.

The itch to rob another train rose again about a year later, and on Sept. 1, 1890, Burrow single-handedly robbed his eighth (and final) train, stopping a northbound Louisville & Nashville passenger train on the trestle over the Escambia River, northeast of Flomaton. After this robbery, detectives and manhunters flooded the area as Burrow began making his way home to Lamar County, where he hoped family members would help hide him from the law.

While on his way north, on Sept. 29, 1890, Burrow arrived at the home of John Barnes, who lived near Castleberry and had once worked with Burrow at a logging camp. Burrow ate breakfast with Barnes and then left for Repton, headed north. As soon as Burrow left, Barnes, who knew Burrow was a wanted man, went to Castleberry and telegraphed authorities to let them know that he’d seen Burrow.

Detectives knew Burrow would have to cross the Alabama River, so they began to monitor river crossings in Monroe County. One of these manhunters, a Southern Express Co. detective named Tom Jackson partnered up with John S. McDuffie who ran a farm at River Ridge, not far from Bell’s Landing. McDuffie had been recommended to Jackson by Monroe County’s sheriff, who said that McDuffie was a “brave and reliable man,” who also knew the geography of the area.

Burrow managed to cross the river undetected, but Jackson and McDuffie continued their hunt. The chase continued for a few more days, and Burrow was captured in Marengo County. Burrow eventually escaped only to be shot and killed by Jefferson Davis “Dixie” Carter during a shootout on Oct. 9, 1890 in Linden.

If the above tale interests you, you’ll love this book because space won’t allow me to give you all the details. There’s a lot more to the story, and I think many of you will enjoy reading it. Miller obviously did a first class job of researching the book, and he noted that he traveled over 2,600 miles doing research for the book.

In the end, I highly recommend this book to readers interested in local history. Copies of the book are $24.95 (plus $3 shipping and handling) and can be purchased by e-mailing the author at outlawlawman@hot.rr.com or by writing him at Rick Miller, 1917 Sutton Place Trail, Harker Heights, TX 76548-6043. Copies of the book are also available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Also, if you’d like to meet Miller in person and buy a copy of the book, he’ll be at the “Rube Burrow Gathering” tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. That event, which will include a presentation by Miller, will be held in Vernon, a small town near Burrow’s home place in Lamar County. For more details about that event, visit www.rubeburrow.org.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for April 24, 2014

1979 Sparta Academy Baseball Team.

35 YEARS AGO

APRIL 26, 1979

“Sparta Academy’s baseball Warriors are having a ‘so-so’ season, mainly due to errors. However, these players are giving it their best, in spite of their youth and inexperience: Greg Crabtree, Andy Hammonds, Joe McInvale, Russ Raines and Tony Baggett; and Jeff Johnson, Tommy Hutcheson, Bobby Padgett, Bobby Mason, Ronny McKenzie and Terry Peacock.”

“Sparta put down Greenville Academy’s Tornadoes, 5-2, behind a fine one-hitter thrown by Tommy Hutcheson. Hutcheson struck out six batters, but walked 12 and had to depend on a good defensive effort by his mates to chalk up the win.

“Hutcheson aided his own pitching effort by leading the eight-hit Warrior attack as he had two hits and two RBI. Peacock also had two hits and one RBI. Ronny McKenzie and Bobby Padgett had one hit and one RBI each and Crabtree and Tony Baggett contributed one hit each.

“Tide alumni and supporters meet tonight: The Conecuh County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association will hold a meeting at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Holiday Inn in Evergreen. Friends and supporters of the University are also invited.

“Special guest from the Capstone will be Steve Shockley, assistant director of Alumni Affairs for Chapter Development. He will show the highlights film of the Crimson Tide’s 1979 Sugar Bowl victory over Penn State.”

50 YEARS AGO

APRIL 23, 1964

“Weaver Paces Win Over Tigers, 6-2: Jimmy Weaver hurled a two-hitter and banged out two doubles to lead the Evergreen Aggies to a 6-2 conquest of the visiting Greenville Tigers Saturday night. The win evened the Aggies’ slate at 2-2.

“The Aggies drew first blood in the third inning when Larry Ellis reached first on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on Sid Lambert’s single.

“The winners pushed across five runs in the fourth as they sent 10 men to the plate. Key blows were a double by Weaver and singles by Ellis, Johnny Brown and Bubba Faulkner.

“The Tigers garnered their two runs with a small rally in the sixth frame.

“Snake Raybon was knocked off the mound by the Aggies fourth inning outburst and was replaced by Owens.”

“LET’S PLAY BALL With Official Little League Shoes – Leather or Canvas, $3.95 per pair, Regulation Leather Shoes with Steel Spikes, $6.95 per pair, FOR ALL SHOE NEEDS AND SHOE REPAIRS – PEOPLES SHOE SHOP.”

“John McInnis spent the weekend at Southern Union College, Wadley, Ala., with Mack McInnis and attended a baseball banquet on Saturday night.”

65 YEARS AGO

APRIL 28, 1949

“Evergreen Aggies Win Over Castleberry, 6-5: The Evergreen High School Aggies brought their season record to the .500 mark with a 6-5 win over the Castleberry nine Tuesday afternoon on the Evergreen diamond at the Evergreen Airport. The Aggies did most of the damage in the third putting together five of their six hits and chasing four runs across the plate. Jeff Moorer’s two run triple was the big blow.

“Evergreen added a tally in the fourth on Donahue Edson’s triple and Dickey Bozeman’s long fly. The Blue Devils scored three in the fourth on three hits, and scored twice more in the fifth to knot the count. Bertie Hassel scored the winning marker for the Aggies in their half of the fifth on John Greel Ralls long fly to left center.

“Bobby (Pistol Pete) Wells started on the hill for the Aggies and hurled creditable ball, but wild pitches in the fourth and fifth were costly. Coach Wendall Hart sent James (Steamboat) Ryan to the mound in the top of the sixth and Ryan turned in a nifty relief performance retiring the last four batters on strikes.

“Herbert Smith started for Castleberry and was touched for all six of the Evergreen hits and five runs before giving way to Lee Owen (Pill) Dees in the top of the fifth. Smith struck out one, Dees four, Wells four and Ryan four.

“Castleberry’s Paul Hart topped the hitters with a four-for-four performance including a double and three singles. Edson with a single and a triple led the Aggie batters.

“The Aggies have won two and lost two. They hold wins over Castleberry and Century (10-0) and have lost to W.S. Neal (0-3) and Andalusia.”

“The Evergreen Golf Club discussed plans for holding a city golf tournament at a meeting Monday night. While the tournament will be called a city tournament, anyone in Conecuh County will be eligible to enter it.”

80 YEARS AGO

APRIL 26, 1934

“Locals Lose Opener To Greenville Sunday: The local baseball team lost the opening game of the season Sunday to Greenville by the one-sided score of 11-4. The game was played at Gantt Field and was witnessed by a large crowd.

“Capt. Lewis used three pitchers in an effort to stop the onslaught of the visitors but none proved sufficiently effective. Porter, Evergreen’s left-hander, started the game to be relieved by Hyde and later by Jones. English caught the entire game.

“A number of costly errors was largely responsible for a large score made by the visitors.

“Evergreen plays Luverne at Luverne Thursday afternoon and Florala at Gantt Field Sunday afternoon.”

Evergreen's Deatrich Wise was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 1988

Evergreen's Deatrich Wise in 1991.

This coming Saturday marks the 26th anniversary of an important sports-related event in the history of Conecuh County. Twenty-six years ago Saturday, on April 26, 1988, the Seattle Seahawks selected Deatrich Wendell Wise of Evergreen in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. At the time, Wise was a senior at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss.

In his heyday, Wise was a force to be reckoned with at Evergreen High School, where he played on the offensive and defensive lines and was a talented kicker. During his high school years, Wise often led Evergreen each week in total tackles, and there were more than a few games in which his field goals were Evergreen’s only points. During Evergreen High School’s athletic banquet in February 1983, Wise not only received the Defensive Lineman of the Year Award, but he also received the Wendell Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player.

After high school, Wise went on to play for Jackson State. During his time there, the Blue Bengal Tigers dominated the South West Athletic Conference, and Wise collected numerous honors and awards during his years there. With Wise on the team, Jackson State made the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs in 1985, 1986 and 1987. In fact, Wise, who played nose tackle, was so good that he was selected to travel with the SWAC Football Conference Press Tour in August 1987 and often appeared on television, speaking on behalf of his team and conference.

In 1988, Seattle picked Wise seventh in the ninth round of the draft (242nd overall), and he played for Seattle for only one season. In 1989, he played for the New Orleans Saints before moving on to the Canadian Football League, where he spent four years as a defensive lineman for the British Columbia Lions. After that, Wise returned to Jackson State, where he served as an assistant coach in 1992 and 1993.

Since then, Wise has served as a head coach and an assistant coach at a number of locations, including Portsmouth High School in Virginia, Delaware State University and for the Norfolk Nighthawks, the Tampa Bay Storm, the Grand Rapids Rampage and the Dallas Desperados of the arena leagues. He also coached football and track in the Birmingham area during the 1990s. He is currently the Director of Player Programs and coaches the offensive linemen, defensive linemen, fullbacks and linebackers for the Desperados.

As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and many of you may be interested to know that Wise’s son, Deatrich Wise Jr., currently plays defensive end for the Arkansas Razorbacks. At 6-foot-6 and 267-pounds, Deatrich Wise Jr. played in all 12 games for the Razorbacks last season as a sophomore. As a high school senior at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, Deatrich Wise Jr. was one of the most highly recruited defensive end prospects in the nation, and he received scholarship offers from Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Purdue and Wake Forest.

If you’re watching Arkansas next fall, keep your eyes open for Deatrich Wise Jr., who wears jersey No. 48. More than likely, it won’t be long before you’ll probably be seeing him in another jersey, because there’s already talk circulating about him departing college early for the NFL Draft.